Customer Reviews

Inland Empire (Original Soundtrack)

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4 star:		(2)
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Whether you believe "Inland Empire" is a great film filled with mystery, or a meaningless assemblage of unsettling scenes, you can't deny that it has a great soundtrack. Sound design has become so important to Lynch that all of his films since "Lost Highway" feature a constant extra-diegetic sound source of some sort. In "Lost Highway", there were obvious musical selections separated by ominous rumblings and barely audible industrial sounds. Now in IE, the distinction between what is "music" in the traditional sense and what is ambient sound is almost totally blurred. Not all music has melody, and not all ambient sound is without melody - even if only in an abstract sense. While I'm disappointed that Angelo Badalamenti didn't collaborate, Lynch seems to have taken on the task himself with great success.

In many ways, this is an interesting companion to the film. It appears that Lynch created lengthy selections, which he subsequently cut and arranged to work with the editing and flow of the film. Now, we're able to hear them in their entirety, as Lynch originally conceived them. To me, it's a fascinating window into his creative mind.

Beyond Lynch's original material, there are some interesting selections ranging from Beck to Penderecki's intense modernist works. The big disappointment for me was the curious omission of the music from the burlesque club scene. It was a great subversion of sleazy stripper jazz into something atonal, but still groovy.

Finally, many speculate that a lot of the film is explained in the lyrics of "Polish Poem", and this is an easy way to hear it. There do seem to be some answers, but as is typical for Lynch, they're clouded in vague, poetic language and end up raising more questions than they answer.

This is an excellent soundtrack. Even if you were not a fan of the film itself, the music stands on its own. It's different from the popular "Lost Highway" soundtrack, but I think it's equally good.

One thing that Lynch cannot be criticized for is producing shallow and brief soundtracks. About 30 seconds short of 80 minutes, the soundtrack to INLAND EMPIRE is just as sonically dense as Lynch's films are visually.

Included on this disc of 17 tracks are 6 compositions written and performed solely by Lynch. The powerful Ghosts of Love ("...Strange what love does..."), and the beautiful Polish Poem (with Chrysta Bell) - frame 14 other songs that include music from Beck, Dave Brubeck, Little Eva and Montovani! The five other compositions by Lynch are dark and moody and though familiar in style to other Lynch music, still holds something new and engaging. Included also are 4 tracks that are from Polish collaborators one of which (Polish Night Music), is one of the most haunting pieces on the entire CD. Rounding out the soundtrack, as in the movie, is Nina Simone's redemptive Sinnerman.

The music in Lynch's films are like pieces of furniture and very consciously placed within the film - in a sort of cinematic feng shiu. Lynch's deep involvement with creating/choosing sound as well as other elements of film work far exceeds that of many, if not most current directors. He's a carpenter, a painter, a lighting and set designer, and a composer. This lends his work to something more personal and intimate. Lynch has made it clear that he has little interest in returning to film as a medium (INLAND EMPIRE was shot entirely on digital video). And the music on Inland Empire is more than incidental: it is as vital as the images. If you're a fan of David Lynch's work, there is no reason why you would not want to add this title to your collection.

In almost 79 minutes, this soundtrack leads you through a very-dark, psycotic and frightening places: Probably all of them allocated in our own hearts and minds. Awesome soundtrack!

I'll just say this now - David Lynch is the most fearless filmmaker alive. He's only gotten better with each film and INLAND EMPIRE is his greatest film yet. His usual composer Angelo Badalamenti is absent on this soundtrack, as Lynch is now off and running creating music on his own and doing a great job of it. He's even singing on this one. He's got such an incredible gift for picking just the right song for each scene, as he's an open channel who eventually knows what needs to be done. It's never about what he likes or doesn't like personally - it's all about what works for the film.

Highlights would be Krzysztof Penderecki's "Als Jakob Erwachte", Mantovani's "Colors Of My Life", Beck`s "Black Tambourine", "The Secrets Of The Life Tree" by Kroke, and all of the many pieces that Lynch wrote with different collaborators including Marek Zebrowski and the amazing Chrysta Bell. The song "Polish Poem" written by Lynch and Bell will haunt your dreams forever, and it might be the most beautiful song I've ever heard.

There's one song that's in the film that is absent here, and it's called "At Last" by Etta James. This is either because there wasn't any room for it on the CD (it's just shy of a full 80 minutes worth of music) or Lynch wasn't allowed to use the song on the soundtrack.

I couldn't recommend this CD or this fantastic film more. Lynch is truly one of a kind and creates art that stays with you, even if you don't fully understand it.

This is the first soundtrack from a Lynch film that was produced and arranged primarily by Lynch and not Angelo Badalamenti. Some of the arrangements are stunning, others are lengthy and trying, but do not diminish the overall quality which I believe is top notch. If you are a fan of Lynch, this soundtrack does not disappoint. A-.

Very haunting and atmospheric. Over eighty minutes worth of music from the likes of Chrysta Bell, Little Eva, Beck, Nina Simone, and David Lynch himself. Highlights are "Ghost of Love" and "Polish Poem." The entire CD however is very enjoyable from start to finish.

I recently purchased this soundtrack after seeing the movie and becoming mesmerized by the score, which runs the spectrum from haunting and ethereal to pulsating and id driven. A hallmark of Lynch's roaring and howling soundtracks is his evocative/suggestive 1950's electric guitar--sort of Jody Rynolds performing in the Twilight Zone. The first cut, Strange What Love Does, is hypnotic in its rhythmic bump and grind insistence. I bought it for this piece alone, but found other equally enjoyable cuts--the Montavani, or is that Mancini, string piece evocative of all the old 101 Strings we remember from the 1950s and 60s. Oh, you will love the beautiful Polish Poem sung by Chrysta Bell. If you find yourself drawn to Lynch's sound by way of his other movies and projects, you'll be more than happy with this purchase. Strange what Lynch Does.

glad that lynch finally snagged the lisence to all the songs from the film!all i can say is this:if you liked the film,like the bluebob album or mulholland drive score,or dig dark,ambient soundscapes,you'll probably like this.it's great to hear the songs seperate from the context of the film;lynch's sonic handiwork improves with each outing.the additions to beck's "little black tambourine" are just cool as heck--who knew that lynch could be a re-mix type of guy?i thoroughly enjoy this album from start to finish.the main highlight,if i had to choose,would obviously be lynch's work with chrysta bell on the rivitingly ghastly "polish poem":thick and dark beauty,laden with hints of defeat and peace at once.